baby
But one of the most important aspects of language development is responsive interaction – talking back to your baby’ s sounds.
“ When a parent responds to a baby’ s sounds, neural connections are strengthened, communication pathways begin to develop, turntaking is learned, social language grows, and the baby’ s confidence builds,” says Hoosain.“ This‘ serve and return’ interaction forms the foundation of communication.”
Speech delays
As mentioned, not every baby follows the same schedule and they will catch up on their own time.
“ Some children are strong in understanding but slower in speaking, focused on motor development first, or growing up in multilingual environments, and many of these children catch up naturally with time and stimulation,” explains Hoosain.
However, there are certain red flags that may suggest something different is going on, and according to Hoosain, these include:
• No babbling by nine months
• No response to sound or name
• No gestures( pointing, waving) by 12 months
• No words by 16 months
• No word combinations by 24 months
• Loss of previously acquired words
• Poor eye contact
• Limited interaction
• Not following simple instructions
• Speech that is very difficult to understand despite their age
If you are worried, Hoosain encourages parents to seek support.“ Early assessment does not mean something is‘ wrong’; it means support can be given early, when the brain is most adaptable.”
Every child’ s journey is unique to them.“ Some speak early, some speak late and some speak little but understand a lot … and all of these can still fall within normal development. What matters most is connection, interaction, and responsive caregiving.”
Talking, reading, singing, playing, and simply being present with your baby builds the foundation for communication. Trust your instincts, celebrate small milestones, and remember: early support is not about labels, it’ s about giving your child the best possible start.
And, as Hoosain says:“ Language grows in love, connection, and conversation.” �
46 www. babysandbeyond. co. za